Free NHL Hockey Prediction: Golden Knights vs. Panthers NHL Odds
Looking for Vegas Golden Knights vs. Florida Panthers free hockey plays & NHL Odds? NHL betting sees the Golden Knights taking on the Panthers on Thursday June 8th at FLA Live Arena in Florida. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NHL Hockey games all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NHL hockey predictions like this Golden Knights Panthers matchup.
NHL Hockey Handicapping – Golden Knights vs. Panthers
(14-5) Vegas Golden Knights vs. Florida Panthers (12-6)
Date: June 8th 2023
Time: 8:00PM EST
Venue: FLA Live Arena
Hockey NHL Money Line Odds: Golden Knights +100 Panthers -120 (Bet Now!)
NHL Hockey Puck Line Odds: Golden Knights +1.5 -250 Panthers -1.5 +210
Today’s NHL Betting Total: O/U 6.0
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Vegas has taken a commanding 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Finals with the play being particularly one-sided in Game 2.
The Golden Knights took advantage of the Panthers’ lack of discipline and made them pay by scoring on 50% of their power play opportunities. Florida racked up 84 minutes in penalties, which included Matthew Tkachuk’s two 10 minute misconducts for a grand total of 22 minutes without their best player.
The Panthers should know by now that it’s insanely tough to win a game when consistently playing a man short.
Overall, the officials were quite liberal with the whistle, handing out a total of 12 ten minute misconducts in Game 2.
Unfortunately for Florida, they remains winless in the Stanley Cup Finals dating back to 1996 and now see their record at T-Mobile Arena drop to 0-6-1 through the regular season and playoffs all-time.
Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights are just two wins away from hoisting the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history. They could become the first team in the salary-cap era to sweep the opposition in the Finals.
It won’t come easy though, as home-ice advantage has been a major trend when it comes to these two teams. Out of the 13 meetings, both regular season and playoffs, 12 have seen the home team come out ahead. The lone anomaly was a 7-2 road victory for Vegas back in February of 2020.
Offense
The Golden Knights have been red hot through their last three games, scoring 5 or more goals in each contest. They now hold the top spot when it comes to offense through the playoffs with an average of 3.89 goals scored per game. At 5-on-5, the Golden Knights have outscored the Panthers 8-3 through two games.
When it comes to the power play, they rank inside the top ten with a 21.5% conversion rate with a +4 goal differential on the man-advantage. In the Finals, the Golden Knights have gone 4-for 11, giving them a success rate of 36.4%. That’s almost twice as much as what they had through their first three round after going just 18.5%.
Jack Eichel still leads the team with 22 points but it’s Jonathan Marchessault and his team-leading 12 goals in his last 12 games that jumps off the page. The winger torched the Panthers for two goals Monday and is right behind Eichel for the team lead in points with his 21.
Following his Game 2 performance, Marchessault is the front runner for the Conn Smythe trophy at -110.
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Defense
Between the regular season and playoffs, these two clubs have met just four times this year. In each of those games, Vegas has conceded just two goals per game.
Overall in this postseason run, they have the 4th best defense with an average of 2.58 goals against per game. While their penalty kill overall may not be as impressive after posting a 67.9% kill rate, they have been a perfect 7-for-7 in the Finals.
Goaltending
Adin Hill heads to Florida with a 9-3 record to go with a playoff leading .937 save percentage and a 2.06 goals against average.
Florida Panthers
The Panthers head home down two games and are just over .500 at home in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
As previously mentioned, the Panthers have yet to win a game in the Stanley Cup Finals in their franchise history and the task gets even more daunting as they struggle keep the puck out of their own net. Sergei Bobrovsky has been their saving grace since he took over in the first round, but after being pulled during the 7-2 drubbing in Game 2, you have to wonder if Florida can see the forest through the trees and find the error in their ways.
Panthers’ Head Coach Paul Maurice has likened the Golden Knights play to that of the Boston Bruins in the first round so we could see the learning curve take a positive turn for the home side.
Offense
After consecutive two-goal games, the Panthers offense has dropped to 9th with an average of 3.00 goals scored per game through the entire playoffs. After going 0-for-7 against Vegas, their power play ranks 7th which is mostly due to their ability to convert on the man-advantage in the first three rounds with a 27.9% success rate.
Matthew Tkachuk still leads the team on offense with his 10 goals and 22 points.
Defense
They have a sixth ranked defense heading into Game 3, with an average of 3.06 goals against per game through these playoffs. Their penalty kill sits at 13th with a 69.8% kill rate.
Radko Gudas is expected to be back after leaving Game 2 off a hit from Ivan Barbashev.
Goaltending
There is a very small chance that Bobrovsky can save what he cannot see. Vegas has been doing an excellent job of getting in front of Bobrovsky and using Florida’s own defense as a screen as well.
Head Coach Paul Maurice has already said he’s going back to Bobrovsky for Game 3 in Florida with his 11-4 tally and a 2.50 goals against average to go with his .925 save percentage.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Florida Panthers Betting Trends
- Over is 4-0 in Golden Knights last 4 overall.
- Over is 4-0 in Golden Knights last 4 Stanley Cup Finals games.
- Over is 8-3 in Golden Knights last 11 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in Panthers last 4 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game.
- Over is 8-1-2 in Panthers last 11 following a loss of 3 or more goals.
Free Vegas Golden Knights vs. Florida Panthers NHL Prediction
Panthers’ Head Coach Paul Maurice has likened the Golden Knights play to that of the Boston Bruins in the first round so we could see the learning curve finally take a positive turn for the home side.
I don’t see this game being as one-sided as the first two but nevertheless I see the scoring to still be high when all is said and done for Game 3.
Take the over.
4* Free Vegas Golden Knights vs. Florida Panthers NHL Betting Pick: Over 6.0
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